PHILLIP PARKER'S CHILD ABUSE AND INDECENT PHOTOGRAPHY CASE IN BIRMINGHAM

A gardener at a country estate who took hundreds of explicit photographs of young girls, some depicting him abusing them, was sentenced to six years in prison in 1992. He currently lives in Chelmsley Wood, Birmingham.

Warwick Crown Court was told that the extent of the photographs was only discovered during the estate's clearance after the death of Lord Norton.

Philip Parker, the estate gardener aged 44 from Stockingford in Nuneaton, admitted to police that he had taken these pictures and had appeared in some himself while simulating sexual acts.

Mr. Justice Rougier sentenced him on Friday after Parker pleaded guilty to charges including indecent assault on three girls aged between five and seven, taking indecent photographs of two of them, and engaging in acts of gross indecency.

The judge stated, "You targeted these girls and virtually debauched them. You took advantage of their innocence and society has to mark its disgust."

Prosecutor David Jones revealed that Parker was married with an 18-year-old son, but unbeknownst to his wife, he also maintained a relationship with a woman with whom he had three children.

The abuse of a girl from Chelmsley Wood began in the mid-1980s when she was just seven years old. Parker continued the abuse over several years at his home, in a shed on the estate, and in his room at Fillongley Hall.

He also coerced her into touching him and took hundreds of photographs of her in naked and intimate poses, some of which included him abusing her by pressing his private parts against hers.

Furthermore, Parker had previously taken indecent photographs of two other young girls aged five and seven, whom he also abused. These included performing acts of oral sex with one of them.

On one occasion, the mothers of the two girls found Parker in his bedroom, naked and engaging with the girls, prompting him to hurriedly dress the children and have them leave through the back door.

The offences came to light when the estate was being cleared, and photographs were discovered in Parker’s bedroom and shed.

During police interviews, Parker claimed that he had taken the photos of the first girl to discourage her from pursuing a career in modeling. He later stated that the photographs were part of a misguided attempt to infiltrate a paedophile ring he wished to expose. However, he also admitted to having a 'weakness' for female children, according to Mr. Jones.

Defense lawyer David Osbourne acknowledged that Parker exploited the girls' immaturity but asserted that he had not used force and claimed that Parker had now overcome his attraction to young girls.

However, Mr. Justice Rougier questioned this defense, asking, "If he no longer has these feelings, how come the photographs were still there?"